News

National Report: Kentucky Ranks 36th in Protecting Kids from Tobacco - Dec 1st, 2011
A new report demonstrates that Kentucky needs to do more to prevent children from smoking.

Kentucky Continues to Provide Health Insurance to Children at a Rate Higher than the National Average - Nov 29th, 2011
New report finds that Kentucky continues to cover children with health insurance at a rate well above the national average.

Kentucky Implements Medicaid Managed Care Plan - Nov 1st, 2011
540,000 Kentuckians on Medicaid switched to privately-managed health plans

Congressional Testimony of Kentuckian Highlights Importance of SSI for Children with Disabilities - Oct 31st, 2011
A Kentucky mother testifies about the importance of SSI for children with disabilities.

Smoke-Free Environments Improve the Health of Kentuckians - Oct 19th, 2011
Kentucky Voices for Health supports smoke-free policies to enable Kentuckians to breath clean air and work in healthier environments.

Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Extended Until Nov. 1 - Sep 19th, 2011
CHFS Secretary Janie Miller announced that the implementation date for Medicaid Managed Care, targeted for Oct. 1, 2011, will be extended one month.

Getting Millions Insured is Job #1 for New Health Coalition - Sep 19th, 2011
KVH is part of Enroll America--a new coalition to get Americans covered by health insurance.

New Census Data On Uninsured in Kentucky - Sep 15th, 2011
New census data show the percent of the population that is uninsured in Kentucky is below the national average.

Kentucky Voices for Health Encouraged by Launch of "Enroll America" - Sep 14th, 2011
Enroll America is launched to promote health coverage enrollment for the uninsured.

KY Group: Collaborating Care Improves Health Outcomes - Aug 29th, 2011
Kentucky Voices for Health is featured in a Public News Service article on the health quality conference KVH hosted on August 24th.

Kentucky Voices for Health Co-Hosts Health Quality Collaborative Conference - Aug 24th, 2011
Kentucky healthcare advocates and organizations will attend a Kentucky Health Quality Collaborative Conference in Frankfort, KY on Wednesday, August 24 to discuss ways to improve the health of all Kentuckians.

Kentucky’s Smoking Cessation Efforts Highlighted - Aug 19th, 2011
Kentucky's smoking cessation efforts were noted in a recent Courier-Journal article.

KIDS COUNT Reveals More Kentucky Children in Poverty - Aug 17th, 2011
New KIDS COUNT report ranks Kentucky 41st among the states for child well-being.

Kentucky Receives Federal Grant to Strengthen Public Health Efforts - Aug 17th, 2011
Kentucky will receive more than $815,000 in grants under the Affordable Care Act to perform critical epidemiology and laboratory work and to detect and prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Kentucky Receives $7.6 Million Grant to Establish A Health Insurance Exchange - Aug 15th, 2011
Kentucky will receive $7,670,803 under the Affordable Care Act to establish a Health Insurance Exchange.

HHS, Treasury Take Steps to Help States Build Affordable Insurance Exchanges - Aug 15th, 2011
Proposed rules focus on tax credits for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

KVH Solicits Nominations for Board of Directors - Jul 29th, 2011

Federal Government Partially Grants Kentucky’s Medical Loss Ratio Waiver Request - Jul 23rd, 2011
The federal government has partially granted a waiver request submitted by the Kentucky Department of Insurance for relief from the medical loss ratio requirement in the Accountable Care Act.

Kentucky Kids Vaccine Schedule Gets Shot in the Arm - Jul 23rd, 2011
KVH Executive Director Jodi Mitchell is quoted in a news story about the state’s new child immunization schedule.

KVH Statement re: Medicaid Managed Care Contracts - Jul 7th, 2011

KVH Supports State Effort to Implement Tobacco Free Schools - Jun 30th, 2011
KVH lauds efforts to create tobacco free schools in Kentucky.

Prescription Drug Discounts Under the Affordable Care Act Saves Seniors Millions - Jun 28th, 2011
Prescription drug discounts under the ACA have saved seniors in the Medicare "donut hole" more than $260 million.

$10 Million in Affordable Care Act Funds for Workplace Wellness - Jun 27th, 2011
HHS announces $10 million in funds to establish comprehensive workplace health promotion programs.

Changes for Vaccine Schedule Take Effect July 1 - Jun 22nd, 2011
A new schedule of child immunizations was recently announced by the Kentucky Department of Public Health.

Guide for Improving, Not Just Cutting Medicaid - Jun 6th, 2011
The June 6, 2011 edition of the Lexington Herald Leader published an op-ed by KVH Executive Director Jodi Mitchell that outlines principles that should be followed in Medicaid managed care.

New Effort to Give Consumers and Employers Better Information About Quality of Care - Jun 3rd, 2011
New federal rules to give public access to quality of care data.

HHS to Reduce Premiums in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan - May 31st, 2011
HHS announced plans today to reduce premiums to make it easier for Americans to enroll in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

Poll Identifies Important Health Issues Facing Kentuckians - May 17th, 2011
New poll shows what health issues Kentuckians believe are most important.

Affordable Care Act Gives Providers New Options to Better Coordinate Care - May 17th, 2011
New initiatives announced to help health providers improve care by becoming Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

KVH Thanks Governor for Support of Medicaid, Shares Principles for Medicaid Managed Care - May 9th, 2011
KVH thanks Governor Beshear for opposing a Medicaid block grant and offers principles for Medicaid managed care.

Doctors Urge Kentuckians to Avoid "Fake Baking" - May 9th, 2011
May is National Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.

Poll: One Quarter of Kentuckians Have No Health Insurance - May 4th, 2011
KVH Executive Director Jodi Mitchell is quoted in a news story on the number of uninsured Kentuckians.

New Web Site Highlights Federal Health Reform Implementation in Kentucky - Apr 20th, 2011
A new web site provides Kentuckians with a wide range of information about the Affordable Care Act and efforts being undertaken by state government to implement it.

Medicaid Managed Care Request for Proposal Released - Apr 7th, 2011
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has released the request for proposals for Medicaid managed care.

Poll Finds One in Three Kentucky Adults Uninsured in the Past Year - Apr 5th, 2011
The 2010 Kentucky Health Issues Poll finds that one in three Kentucky adults have been uninsured at some point in the last year.

KY Study: Patchwork Approach to School Health Services - Apr 1st, 2011
New study finds Kentucky's school-based health services vary in quality and investment.

KVH Wins Healthcare Advocacy Award - Mar 31st, 2011
KVH wins the 2011 MediStar/Seven Counties Services Healthcare Advocacy Award.

Ranking Shows Wealthier Counties Are Healthier In Kentucky - Mar 31st, 2011
A new report ranks health status in Kentucky's counties.

PROTECTING CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS: Statement of Kentucky Voices for Health - Mar 25th, 2011
March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Now that health reform is the law of the land, Kentucky Voices for Health believes it is time to move forward to protect children and young adults.

KY Consumer Advocates Celebrate Health Reform’s 1st B-Day - Mar 24th, 2011
Public News Service - KY (article reprint)

PROTECTING WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE: Statement of Kentucky Voices for Health - Mar 24th, 2011
March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Now that health reform is the law of the land, Kentucky Voices for Health believes it is time to move forward to protect women’s health care.

PROTECTING HEALTH CONSUMERS: Statement of Kentucky Voices for Health - Mar 23rd, 2011
March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Now that health reform is the law of the land, Kentucky Voices for Health believes it is time to move forward to protect consumers of health care.

PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS: Statement of Kentucky Voices for Health - Mar 21st, 2011
March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Now that health reform is the law of the land, Kentucky Voices for Health believes it is time to move forward to protect small business.

PROTECTING SENIORS HEALTH: Statement of Kentucky Voices for Health - Mar 21st, 2011
March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Now that health reform is the law of the land, Kentucky Voices for Health believes it is time to move forward to protect seniors’ health.

Affordable Care Act Increasing Access, Lowering Costs for People with Medicare - Mar 17th, 2011
New report finds people on Medicare are receiving more preventive services under the Affordable Care Act.

Poll Finds Many Kentuckians Favor Treatment vs. Incarceration for Non-Violent Offenders - Mar 11th, 2011
Poll finds approximately 70% of Kentuckians favor treatment over incarceration for substance abusers.

New CSG Brief on Health Insurance Exchanges - Mar 10th, 2011
A new brief from the Council on State Governments discusses state health insurance exchanges.

New Consumer Disclosure Notices to Bring Transparency to Health Insurance - Mar 7th, 2011
New information about rate increases provided to consumers under the Affordable Care Act will bring transparency to health insurance.

Survey Finds Healthy Foods Difficult to Access for Many Kentuckians - Mar 2nd, 2011
New survey finds affordable healthy foods are not available to many Kentuckians.

Kentucky One of Nine States Chosen for Grants to Streamline Services - Feb 27th, 2011
Kentucky selected to test inventive ways to streamline services for low-income working families.

States Can Apply for Nearly $200 Million to Help Fight Health Premium Increases - Feb 26th, 2011
Nearly $200 million available to states to fight health insurance premium increases.

New Report Details Affordable Care Act Resources and Flexibility for States - Feb 25th, 2011
A new report details flexibility under ACA to improve health benefits.

What Kentuckians Think About the Affordable Care Act - Feb 25th, 2011
New poll shows Kentuckians support for the Affordable Care Act.

HHS Issues Additional Information to States About Medicaid Eligibility Under the ACA - Feb 24th, 2011
HHS iisues addtional guidance to states about Medicaid elibibility under the ACA.

Federal Judge Upholds Insurance Coverage Requirement - Feb 23rd, 2011
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., became the third federal judge to uphold the constitutionality of the health overhaul's individual mandate.

What Kentuckians Think About Smoke-Free Policies - Feb 17th, 2011
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky releases poll results on smoke-free policies.

States Expand Medicaid Managed Care - Feb 17th, 2011
Faced with rising Medicaid costs, more states are expanding the use of managed care.

Kentucky Tobacco Quit Line Now Available to Young Kentuckians - Feb 14th, 2011
The Kentucky Tobacco Quit Line is now offering counseling services to teens age 15 to 17 years old.

The Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund in Kentucky - Feb 10th, 2011
Kentucky has received more than $1.3 million in prevention funding under the Affordable Care Act.

Re-up of Children's Health Insurance Law Turns Two, Helps Millions - Feb 7th, 2011
KVH members are featured in article discussing KCHIP and the anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

Joint Statement on the 2nd Anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - Feb 3rd, 2011
KVH teams with Kentucky Youth Advocates and Covering Kentucky Kids and Familes to issue a joint statement on the 2nd Anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

Two Year Anniversary of Children’s Health Insurance Law Sees Millions of Newly Insured Children - Feb 3rd, 2011
More than two million addtional children have been served by Medicaid and CHIP since the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Feds Outline Medicaid Flexibility for States - Feb 3rd, 2011
HHS advises states of the flexibility and support available in dealing with with Medicaid budgets.

New Medicare Rule to Require Notice to Beneficiaries of Their Right to File Complaints - Feb 3rd, 2011
A proposed rule would require providers to give Medicare beneficiaries written notice of their right to complain about the quality of care.

States Diverge on Responding to Health Care Ruling - Feb 2nd, 2011
The New York Times reports on state responses to the recent Florida ruling invalidating the Affordable Care Act.

New Dietary Guidelines to Help Americans Make Healthier Food Choices and Confront Obesity Epidemic - Jan 31st, 2011
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity.

Electronic Cigarettes: Don’t be Fooled by Manufacturers’ Empty Claims - Jan 31st, 2011
There is no evidence to suggest that E-cigarettes are safe.

States Face Decisions in Setting Up Insurance Exchanges - Jan 26th, 2011
In the coming months, states have a lot of choices to make about how they want the private health insurance market to operate.

Three Million Medicare Beneficiaries Get Prescription Drug Relief Under the Affordable Care Act - Jan 21st, 2011
Three million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide have received prescription drug cost relief through the Affordable Care Act to date.

Roll Call on House Vote to Repeal Health Reform - Jan 20th, 2011
View the full roll call vote on U. S. House repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

News Roundup on House Vote to Repeal Health Law - Jan 20th, 2011
A roundup of news stories on yesterday's U. S. House vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

House Votes to Repeal Health Law - Jan 19th, 2011
The House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the health reform law by a vote of 245 to 189.

129 Million Americans Could Be Denied Coverage If Health Reform Repealed - Jan 18th, 2011
A new report finds that 129 million Americans with pre-existing health conditions could be denied health coverage if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

Smoke-Free Advocates and Policymakers Speak Out - Jan 15th, 2011
Educational vignettes featuring advocates and policymakers of Kentucky smoke-free laws have been posted on the web site of the The Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy.

KVH in the News - Jan 13th, 2011
KVH Executive Director Jodi Mitchel was recently featured by three Lexington news outlets discussing the Affordable Care Act

KVH Applauds KY Smoke Free Efforts - Jan 6th, 2011
Kentucky Voices for Health Applauds KY Smoke Free Efforts

New Rules Shed Light On Health Insurance Rate Hikes - Dec 22nd, 2010
New federal rules will bring new transparency and scrutiny to proposed health insurance rate increases.

A New Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions - Dec 14th, 2010
HHS announces a private-public sector collaboration to respond to the growing challenge of people with multiple chronic conditions.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Part of Health Reform Law - Dec 13th, 2010
A federal judge in Virginia has found the requirement in the Affordable Care Act that individuals purchase health insurance is unconstitutional.

KY Kids to Benefit from Federal Child Nutrition Bill - Dec 10th, 2010
KVH member Lacey McNary discusses the impact of new child nutrition legislation on Kentucky's children.

New Surgeon General’s Report Says Tobacco Smoke Causes Immediate Damage - Dec 9th, 2010
A new General’s Report finds that any level of exposure to tobacco causes immediate damage to your body.

The Holidays: A Recipe for More Joy, Less Stress - Dec 8th, 2010
Tips for a more joyful holiday season from KVH member Seven Counties Services, Inc.

$2.3 Million in Grants Will Benefit Kentucky’s Aging Citizens and Individuals with Disabilities - Dec 7th, 2010
Kentucky will receive more than $2.3 million in federal grants to help seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options.

Kentucky Voices for Health Applauds Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Agenda - Dec 2nd, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled Healthy People 2020, the nation’s new 10-year goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention, and “myHealthyPeople,” a new challenge for technology application developers.

Prescribing "Promising Practices" for KY's Sick Medicaid Budget - Nov 24th, 2010
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky offers ideas to improve care and lower costs in the Medicaid program.

New Medical Loss Ratio Rules Give Consumers Better Value - Nov 22nd, 2010
New regulations issued by HHS require health insurers to spend 80 to 85 percent of consumers’ premiums on direct care.

Kentucky Earns $420,000 Grant for Health Equity - Nov 17th, 2010
The Kentucky Department for Public Health will receive a $420,000 federal grant to promote health equity.

KVH Member Interviewed on Television About Medicaid Smoking Cessation Benefit - Nov 15th, 2010
KVH member Tonya Chang was interviewed recently on Lexington television about the new smoking cessation benefit under Kentucky’s Medicaid program.

Feds Announce New Tobacco Control Strategy - Nov 10th, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces a new comprehensive tobacco control strategy that includes bolder health warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements.

Report Shows Savings of $3,500 for Medicare Beneficiaries Under Affordable Care Act - Nov 8th, 2010
A new analysis estimates that under the Affordable Care Act, average savings for those enrolled in traditional Medicare will amount to more than $3,500 over the next 10 years.

New Federal Funds for Information Technology Under Health Reform - Nov 8th, 2010
HHS announces new federal support for states to develop and upgrade Medicaid information technology systems and systems for enrollment in state exchanges.

Nearly 700 Additional Employers And Unions To Receive Help Providing Health Coverage To Early Retiree - Oct 29th, 2010
Nearly 700 additional employers and unions will receive help under the Affordable Care Act in providing health coverage to early retirees.

NAIC Adopts Medical Loss Ratio Over Insurers’ Objections - Oct 21st, 2010
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners voted to require health insurers to pay 80 to 85 percent of premiums for health care.

Kentucky Receives Grant To Help Put Patients In Control Of Their Health Care - Oct 19th, 2010
Kentucky has been awarded a $215,784 federal grant to fund a state consumer assistance program for health insurance consumers.

CHFS Receives $1 Million Federal Grant for Planning for Health Insurance Exchange - Oct 19th, 2010
Kentucky has received a $1 million grant from the federal government to evaluate the health insurance market and develop plans to prepare for the operation of a state health insurance exchange.

Feds Issue Guidance on Child Health Insurance - Oct 15th, 2010
Federal officals say health insurers can't have different rules for individual policies sold for children with medical problems than for healthy kids.

Suit Against Health Law Will Move To Trial After Florida - Oct 15th, 2010
A news roundup of the decision of a Florida federal court to allow a legal challenge to the new health care law to move forward.

More Than 400,000 Kentuckians Eligible for Health Insurance Tax Credits - Oct 14th, 2010
A new report estimates that in 2014 more than 400,000 Kentuckians will be eligible for tax credits worth $1.6 billion to help pay for health insurance.

HHS Announces A Major New Investment In Community Health Centers - Oct 8th, 2010
Kentucky to receive more than $23 million under new grants for community health centers.

Medicaid Smoking Cessation Coalition Applauds New Benefit - Oct 4th, 2010
Statement of the Medicaid Smoking Cessation Coalition on the new Medicaid benefit to help Medicaid recipients stop smoking.

Medicaid Launches New Tobacco Cessation Benefit - Oct 4th, 2010
Kentucky Medicaid recipients are now eligible for tobacco cessation medications and nicotine replacement therapy to help them stop smoking.

Affordable Care Act Gives Consumers New Tools, Promotes Transparency - Oct 1st, 2010
Healthcare.gov provides new information about private health insurance benefits and pricing.

Kentucky To Receive $1 Million For Activities Related To Health Insurance Exchange - Oct 1st, 2010
Kentucky will receive $1 million under the Affordable Care Act to conduct research and planning related to creating a health insurance exchange.

Medicaid Match Extension Helps, But Falls Short - Oct 1st, 2010
The Council of State Governments reports that the additional Medicaid assistance Congress provided to states falls short of what many states had budgeted.

Kentucky Receives $1.3 Million To Help People Navigate Health And Long-Term Care Options - Sep 29th, 2010
Kentucky will receive $1.3 million under the Affordable Care Act to help people navigate health and long-term care options.

Kentucky Receives $581,317 In Public Health Grants - Sep 25th, 2010
Kentucky will receive more than half a million dollars as result of new public health grants in the Affordable Care Act.

KVH In The News - Sep 24th, 2010
Kentucky Voices for Health was featured this week in news stories highlighting new health insurance reforms.

Kentucky Receives Grant For Public Health Improvement - Sep 21st, 2010
Kentucky will receive $200,000 to improve public health from a grant under the Affordable Care Act.

KVH News Conference Addresses Impact of New Health Reform Law - Sep 20th, 2010
KVH held an audio news conference on September 20 to address provisions of the new federal health reform law that take effect on September 23.

Courier-Journal Highlights Health Reforms - Sep 17th, 2010
A Courier-Journal editorial highlighted the provisions of the new federal health reform law relating to health insurance that will take effect on September 23

HHS Awards $31 Million For Prevention And Wellness Projects - Sep 14th, 2010
HHS awards $31 million to ten communities and one state to reduce obesity and smoking, increase physical activity and improve nutrition.

Senate Rejects Efforts to Modify Health Law’s Provisions for Small Businesses - Sep 14th, 2010
U. S. Senate rejects the Johanns amendment to limit the impact of the new health law's impact on small businesses.

Federal Medicaid Extension Still Leaves $100 Million Gap - Sep 9th, 2010
Gov. Beshear asks legislative work groups to recommend Medicaid savings

National Coalition Formed To Insure Children - Sep 3rd, 2010
A national coaltion of partners, ranging from state governors to national advocacy organizations, have stepped up to the challenge of enrolling five million unisured children in Medicaid or CHIP within five years.

KVH Members In The News - Sep 1st, 2010
A story in today’s Courier-Journal featured two Kentucky Voices for Health members who testified at the Medicaid Cost Containment Task Force meeting in Frankfort on August 31.

Nearly 2,000 Employers Approved Into New Early Retiree Program - Sep 1st, 2010
Nearly 2,000 employers and unions have been accepted into the new early retiree program to help pay for health coverage.

Prescription Drug Cost Relief Under the Affordable Care Act - Aug 31st, 2010
One million Medicare beneficiaries have received prescription drug cost relief under the Affordable Care Act.

Push for Complete Streets to Yield Better Health, Environment - Aug 26th, 2010
Kentucky Youth Advocates is encouraging Kentucky communities to adopt "complete street" policies that allow for safe physical activity and recreation.

Gov. Beshear Announces Elimination of KCHIP Premiums - Aug 25th, 2010
Families in the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) will no longer have to pay monthly premiums.

Kentucky Receives Federal Grant to Improve Review of Health Premiums - Aug 16th, 2010
Kentucky has received a $1 million federal grant to improve the health insurance rate review process.

Study Finds Younger Medicare Beneficiaries With Disabilities Struggle With Cost and Access - Aug 12th, 2010
Younger Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities are much more likely than seniors in the program to report problems accessing and paying for needed medical services, according to a new study.

Another Round of Donut Hole Rebate Checks Drop This Week - Aug 11th, 2010

Kentucky To Receive $155 Million in Additional Federal Medicaid Funds - Aug 11th, 2010
Kentucky will receive an estimated $155 million in additional federal Medicaid funds under the extension of the enhanced federal Medicaid matching rate passed by Congress on August 10.

FMAP Extended - Aug 10th, 2010

KVH Members Quoted in Medicaid Article - Aug 9th, 2010
An article on legislative efforts to reduce costs in Kentucky’s Medicaid program in the August 8 edition of The Courier-Journal featured quotes from several Kentucky Voices for Health members.

Senate Vote on Medicaid Extension Passes, 61-38 - Aug 4th, 2010
The Senate cloture vote on extending the enhanced Medicaid match passed 61-38 today, August 4.

KVH Featured in Lexington-Herald Leader - Aug 2nd, 2010
The latest KVH issue brief, The New Health Reform Law: What It Means for Kentuckians, was featured on August 2 in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

HHS Soliciting Public Input in Developing Standards for Insurance Exchanges - Jul 30th, 2010
HHS Announces Availability of $51 Million in Resources for States to Build New Competitive Health Insurance Marketplace - HHS Also Soliciting Public Input in Developing Standards for Insurance Exchanges

New KVH Issue Brief Outlines Provisions of New Health Reform Law - Jul 27th, 2010
A new KVH issue brief outlines the provisions of the new health reform law and estimates that hundreds of thousands of Kentucky families will benefit over the next 10 years.

Administration Announces New Affordable Care Act Measures to Protect Consumers and Put Patients Back - Jul 22nd, 2010
New Regulations Give Patients Right To Appeal Health Plan Decisions; New Grants Program Strengthens State and Territory Consumer Assistance Programs

New Report Shows 89.2 Percent of Kentucky Small Businesses Eligible for Federal Health Care Tax Credi - Jul 22nd, 2010
More than 51,100 Kentucky Small Businesses Eligible for Tax Credit in 2010

KY Smoking Cessation Efforts to be Recognized at NCSL Meeting - Jul 22nd, 2010
Thanks to the forward thinking leadership of Governor Steve Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly, our Commonwealth has taken a major step toward becoming a national leader in the fight against smoking.

Affordable Care Act Initial Funding for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grants - Jul 21st, 2010
Kentucky awarded $1,374,345 for Home Visiting Program to Improve the Wellbeing of Children and Families

Administration Announces Regulations Requiring New Health Insurance Plans to Provide Free Preventive - Jul 14th, 2010
New federal regulations require new private health plans to cover evidence-based preventive services without cost sharing.

A Bridge To Better Health Insurance For Kentuckians Now Without - Jul 2nd, 2010
KVH Executive Director Jodi Mitchell is interviewed about the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP).

Governors Ramp Up Lobbying for Federal Medicaid Dollars - Jul 2nd, 2010
Governors are lobbying Congress to pass an extension of enhanced Medicaid funds to help deal with state budget woes.

HHS Launches New Consumer Focused Health Care Website, www.HealthCare.gov - Jul 1st, 2010
A Powerful New Information Tool That Will Give Consumers More Control Over Their Own Health Care and Allow Them to Compare Their Coverage Option

New Health Coverage for Kentuckians With Pre-Existing Conditions Available Starting Today - Jul 1st, 2010
An important part of the new federal health reform law takes effect July 1 when Kentuckians who have been without health insurance for at least six months and who have been denied coverage because of pre-existing health conditions will be given access to affordable, quality coverage.

New Federal Rules On Changes In Health Benefits - Jun 14th, 2010

The Courier-Journal Reports on Medicaid Stop Smoking Funds - Jun 14th, 2010
The Courier-Journal reports on the $1.5 million appropriation included in the recently-passed Kentucky state budget to fund smoking cesscation services in the Medicaid program.

Medicare Checks Arriving - Jun 14th, 2010
Checks for $250 are going out starting this month to some Kentuckians enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan.

Keeping Kentucky Kids Off the Obesity Track - Jun 10th, 2010
New guidelines from a White House task force aim to reduce obesity among children.

Making Coverage More Affordable for America’s Seniors - Jun 7th, 2010

State Budget Update - Jun 3rd, 2010
KVH applauds two key health wins in State Budget passed on May 28

Medicaid Smoking Cessation Benefit Funded in 2010-11 Kentucky Budget - Jun 1st, 2010
Health & Business Advocates Applaud Governor and General Assembly

New report: 920,000 Kentuckians with pre-existing conditions will benefit from health reform law - May 27th, 2010

Medicare mailing to beneficiaries to education them on the new Affordable Care Act - May 24th, 2010

Special Session to end budget stalemate - May 20th, 2010
Gov. Beshear issues call for Special Session to end budget stalemate
Session to include budget, unemployment insurance and alcohol sampling issues

Child Obesity Recommendations Released - May 12th, 2010
The Childhood Obesity Task Force has released an action plan to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act - May 12th, 2010
Proposed regulations have been issued to allow adult children to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26.

Federal Stimulus Funds Address Health Issues of Kentucky Seniors - May 6th, 2010
The agency that oversees programs for Kentucky’s aging population has received stimulus funds to improve the health of Kentucky seniors.

Health Reform Hotline Coming Soon - May 5th, 2010
A new federal hotline to answer consumers' questions about the new health reform law will be available soon.

Time Running Short for Medicaid Help - May 4th, 2010
States are relying on an extension of enhanced federal Medicaid funding to balance their budgets.

Writing the Rules for the New Health Law - Apr 30th, 2010
A story from the National Journal about writing regulations for the new health reform law.

New Health Law Requires Disclosure of Payments to Physicians - Apr 30th, 2010
The new health reform law will require public disclosure of payments made to physicians by medical-related companies.

Fine Print Complicates Effort to Cover Young Adults - Apr 27th, 2010
Some parents may have to wait to get children as old as age 26 to be allowed to stay on their health plans because of the health law's fine print.

Are There Enough Doctors for the Newly Insured? - Apr 27th, 2010
A look at whether the country has enough primary care doctors to take care of the newly insured under the new health reform law.

Poll Finds More Confusion Than Anger Over New Health Law - Apr 23rd, 2010
The first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released since health overhaul became law shows that most people are confused -- not angry.

U.S. House Passes Fitness Bill - Apr 23rd, 2010
The U. S. House of Representative passed the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act on Wednesday.

Health Reform Will Cover More People, Cost More Than Orginally Projected - Apr 23rd, 2010
A new CMS report estimates that health reform will cover more people but at a higher cost than originally projected.

States' Medicaid Funds Tapped For Federal Health Overhaul - Apr 23rd, 2010
The new health care law could shift billions of dollars from states to the federal government by changing the way Medicaid prescription drug rebates are treated.

Health Insurance Coverage for Young Adults - Apr 21st, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issues a statement on the growing number of health insurers offering coverage to young adults under age 26.

KVH Hires Executive Director - Apr 21st, 2010
Jodi Mitchell has been hired as Executive Director of Kentucky Voices for Health.

New York Offers Costly Lessons on Insurance - Apr 20th, 2010
The New York Times reports on problems in New York state's health insurance system.

Session Ends Without Budget - Apr 18th, 2010
A news report from the Legislative Research Commission on the failure of the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly to enact a budget.

New Poll Finds Opposition to Health Law Grows - Apr 15th, 2010
New poll finds growing opposition to the health reform law.

Private Insurers Seek to Help States Manage Medicaid Expansion - Apr 15th, 2010
The Wall Street Journal reports on private health insurers’ plans to help states manage the coming Medicaid expansion.

Hope for the Long Term - Apr 15th, 2010
A provision in the new health reform law offers long-term care benefits for older Americans.

This Week in Frankfort - Apr 9th, 2010
A recap of the week's events in the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly from the Legislative Research Commission.

Confusion in the Capitols - Apr 9th, 2010
Stateline.org reports that state lawmakers and health officials are struggling to determine the impact of Medicaid expansions in the new health reform law.

New Study Details Barriers to Enrollment in Public Health Insurance - Apr 8th, 2010
A new report explores the specific barriers faced by New York’s 500,000 uninsured childless adults who are eligible for public coverage but are not enrolled.

Changes Coming to Health Insurance Plans - Apr 8th, 2010
Consumer and employers are scrambling to understand what will change in their premiums and benefits once provisions of the new health reform law go into effect.

Health Insurers Sue in Massachusetts to Raise Rates - Apr 8th, 2010
A half-dozen health insurers have filed suit in Massachusetts to overturn a decision rejecting double-digit premium increases.

Conway Declines to Join Lawsuit Against Health Reform Law - Apr 8th, 2010
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway recently declined a request from the legislature to join a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new health reform law.

Regulators Battle Rate Hikes - Apr 2nd, 2010
State regulators in Maine and Massachusetts are battling health insurers over proposed premium increases.

Health Care Plan: What Does It Mean in Kentucky? - Mar 29th, 2010
KVH co-chair Shelia Schuster discusses the new federal health care reform legislation.

Kaiser Issues Implementation Timeline for Health Reform Law And Other Reform Resources - Mar 26th, 2010
New resources from the Kaiser Family Foundation to help understand the new health reforms.

Immediate Benefits of Health Reform - Mar 25th, 2010
A number of the provisions of the new health reform will take effect immediately and start providing benefits to Americans.

Senate Approves Health Care Fix - Mar 25th, 2010
The U.S. Senate approves changes to health care legislation.

Health Care Reform Approved - Mar 22nd, 2010
The U. S. House of Representatives approved health reform legislation on Sunday by a vote of 220 to 211.

Louisville Awarded $7.9 Million Federal Health Grant - Mar 20th, 2010
Louisville is one of 44 communities around the country receiving a new federal health grant to support healthy living.

New Kaiser Poll - Mar 20th, 2010
Key findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation's March Health tracking poll.

Latest Details on Federal Health Reform Legislation - Mar 19th, 2010
With a vote imminent in the U.S. House, here's the latest documents relating to federal health reform legislation.

Benefits of Federal Health Reform by Congressional District - Mar 18th, 2010
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has prepared an analysis, for all 435 congressional districts, of the impact of the pending federal health reform legislation.

New Report Shows Middle Class Shouldering the Brunt of Health Insurance Crisis - Mar 18th, 2010
A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows the impact of the health insurance crisis on the middle class.

States Cutting Medicaid - Mar 17th, 2010
Stories from around the country on state cutbacks in Medicaid.

Childhood Inactivity: Early Steps Needed to Prevent a Growing Problem - Mar 14th, 2010
Kentuckians favor requiring physical activities in school.

House Budget Funds Smoking Cessation and Elimination of KCHIP Premiums - Mar 14th, 2010
The Kentucky House budget funds smoking cessation coverage and elimination of KCHIP premiums

Child Dental Care - Mar 8th, 2010
Kentucky received the grade of "C" in a new study of child dental care.

New Health Bills - Mar 7th, 2010
Now that the deadline for new legislation has passed, here's a look at health bills filed last week.

This Week in Frankfort - Mar 5th, 2010
News about the week's events in the Kentucky General Assembly from the Public Information Office of the Legislative Research Commission

The Latest Health Legislation - Mar 2nd, 2010
A brief rundown of health-related legislation filed last week in Frankfort.

New Report on Public Health Spending - Mar 2nd, 2010
A new report ranks the states based on public health spending.

New Survey Finds Dramatic Increase in Uninsured - Feb 22nd, 2010
A new survey finds almost 900,000 Kentuckians without health coverage.

Health Legislation Filed Last Week - Feb 22nd, 2010
A brief rundown of health legislation filed last week in the Kentucky General Assembly.

This Week in Frankfort - Feb 19th, 2010
News on the week's activities in the Kentucky General Assembly prepared by the Public Information Office of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.

States Considering Medicaid Cuts - Feb 19th, 2010
The New York Times reports today that many states are making or considering cuts in Medicaid as demand for the program is on the rise.

New County Health Rankings - Feb 18th, 2010
A new report ranks the health of the population in every county in the United States.

Kentucky Kids Take Center Stage at Capitol Rally - Feb 18th, 2010
Children's Advocacy Day in Frankfort.

The Latest Health Bills Introduced in the 2010 Kentucky General Asembly - Feb 16th, 2010
Summaries of Health Bills Introduced Last Week in the 2010 Kentucky General Asembly.

New Report on Cigarette Taxes - Feb 11th, 2010
New Report Finds A $1 Cigarette Tax Increase Would Raise $214 Million for Kentucky And Cut Youth Smoking

News from Frankfort - Feb 8th, 2010
The latest on health legislation filed in the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly.

Latest Health Legislation in Frankfort - Jan 25th, 2010
Summary of health bills filed last week in the Kentucky General Assembly.

This Week in Frankfort - Jan 22nd, 2010
Recap of this week's activities in the Kentucky General Assembly prepared by the Legislative Research Commission Public Information Office.

Gov. Beshear Announces Budget Proposal - Jan 21st, 2010
Governor Steve Beshear announced his FY 2010-2012 budget proposal in an address to the General Assembly on January 19.

Are You Absolutely Sure You Want Fries with That? - Jan 18th, 2010
New legislation would require chain restaurants to post calories on menus.

New Health Legislation Filed - Jan 18th, 2010
Summaries of health legislation filed during the second week of the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly.

Governor Advocates Removal of KCHIP Premiums - Jan 14th, 2010
Gov. Beshear promotes removal of KCHIP premiums in his State of the Commonwealth address.

Kentucky Legislation Relating to KVH Initiatives - Jan 12th, 2010
Several bills have been introduced in the 2010 Kentucy General Assembly that relate to initiatives adopted by Kentucky Voices for Health.

Governor Beshear Commits Funding to Smoking Cessation Programs - Jan 7th, 2010
Governor Beshear commits funding to smoking cessation programs in his 2010 State of the Commonwealth Address.

Kentucky Voices for Health seeks executive director - Dec 21st, 2009
Kentucky Voices for Health seeks a full time executive director to help guide its development and build its effectiveness.

Despite Economy, Kentuckians Still Favor Increased Health Access - Dec 21st, 2009
New poll finds 81% of Kentuckians favor providing increased access to health coverage.

Resolution Filed Urging Governor to Fund Medicaid Smoking Cessation Services - Dec 10th, 2009
A resolution has been filed calling on the Governor to include fudning for Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation services in his 2010-2012 budget proposal.

National Report Ranks Kentucky 40th in Protecting Kids from Tobacco - Dec 10th, 2009
A new report ranks Kentucky 40th in the nation in funding tobacco prevention programs.

Comparison of House and Senate Health Reform Legislation - Nov 24th, 2009
The Kaiser Family Foundation offers an online comparison of the House-passed health reform legislation with the new Senate proposal.

New Federal Report Shows Impact of Federal Health Reforms on Kentucky - Nov 24th, 2009
New Health & Human Services Report Shows Impact of Federal Health Reforms on Kentucky

Federal Health Reform Legislation—Impact on Kentucky - Nov 19th, 2009
The Urban Institute estimates that almost 200,000 additional Kentuckians will enroll in Medicaid under the provisions of the health reform bill passed by the House.

Medicaid Relief for States - Nov 19th, 2009
The Washington Post reports that the House health care bill contains $23.5 billion in new funding to expand state Medicaid programs.

New American Lung Association Report - Nov 12th, 2009
New American Lung Association report urges full coverage of proven smoking cessation treatments.

National Stop Smoking Campaign - Nov 12th, 2009
National stop smoking campaign continues with information, resources for smokers

Stimulus Money to Help Enroll Eligible Children in KCHIP - Nov 11th, 2009
Governor announces that new federal stimulus money will help enroll more children in Jefferson County in KCHIP.

Governor Discusses Cigarette Tax Increase - Nov 11th, 2009
The Courier-Journal reports Governor Steve Beshear suggested that another increase in the cigarette tax could reduce smoking and be part of the solution to Kentucky’s budget problems

Health Reform Bill Passes U.S. House - Nov 9th, 2009
A comprehensive health reform bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 7 by a vote of 220-215.

KCHIP/Medicaid Enrollment Goals Exceeded - Nov 4th, 2009
Kentucky is ahead of schedule in meeting the goal of enrolling more than 35,000 additional children in KCHIP or Medicaid.

Medicaid Smoking Cessation Program Saves Lives and Taxpayer Dollars - Oct 23rd, 2009
Kentucky health advocates call for funding of a Medicaid smoking cessation program.

Hawaii Offers Lessons for Health Reform - Oct 23rd, 2009
Hawaii’s health system offers important lessons for federal reform efforts.

Kentucky Health Advocates to Urge Governor to Fund Smoking Cessation - Oct 14th, 2009
Kentucky health care advocates will gather in Frankfor on October 21 to urge Governor to fund Medicaid cessation program.

New Kaiser Resources on Health Coverage - Oct 14th, 2009
The Kaiser Family Foundation has updated its resources on health coverage and the uninsured to reflect new census data.

Fall Prevention Awareness Day - Oct 12th, 2009
Governor Beshear proclaims September 22 as Fall Prevention Awareness Day.

New State Scorecard on Health System Performance - Oct 12th, 2009
The Commonwealth Fund’s new state health care scorecard finds wide differences in access, quality, avoidable hospitalization and cost across the states.

Transforming Child Health Care - Oct 2nd, 2009
Experts believe that the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 could transform child health care.

Teens With Chronic Diseases Often Have Expensive, Uncertain Coverage - Oct 2nd, 2009
ABC news reports that teens with chronic diseases often have expensive and uncertain health coverage.

New Kaiser Survey on Medicaid - Oct 2nd, 2009
New Kaiser survey provides outlook for state Medicaid programs.

One in Three Kentuckians Has Public Health Coverage - Sep 29th, 2009
One in three Kentuckians (34%), receives health coverage from a publicly funded source.

States Push to Ban Insurance Mandate - Sep 29th, 2009
Legislators in some states are pushing for state constitutional amendments that would ban the requirement that individuals buy health insurance.

States Express Concern Over Medicaid Expansion - Sep 29th, 2009
Some states are expression concern about the additional costs of Medicaid expansions in federal health reforms.

Vast Majority of Uninsured in Kentucky are Employed - Sep 23rd, 2009
The vast majority (83%) of uninsured Kentuckians are low-income workers whose jobs generally do not provide coverage.

Kentucky Insures Greater Share of Children Than Nation - Sep 22nd, 2009
New census data shows that Kentucky insures a greater share of children than Indiana or the nation as a whole.

New Report Outlines Importance of Health Insurance Reform for Young Americans - Sep 22nd, 2009
New HHS Report Outlines Importance of Health Insurance Reform for Young Americans

23 States Move Forward in Child Health Coverage - Sep 17th, 2009
Twenty-three states expanded or improved children’s health coverage programs this year despite a tough economic climate, according to a new report by the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University.

New Census Data Shows Decline in Job-Based Health Coverage - Sep 12th, 2009
Kentucky Youth Advocates reports that new Census Bureau estimates show that roughly one in seven Kentuckians lacked health coverage in 2007 and 2008.

All the Shouting Getting You Down? Finding Truth in Health Reform - Sep 12th, 2009
Resources for the real answers to questions about health reform.

AARP Kentucky Pushing Congress on Health Care Reform - Sep 9th, 2009
AARP Kentucky Pushing Congress on Health Care Reform

New poll finds Kentuckians narrowly favor public health option - Sep 9th, 2009
New poll finds Kentuckians narrowly favor public health option

New Kentucky Voices for Health Issue Brief - Sep 3rd, 2009
New KVH issue brief reports that expanding health coverage would reduce $1 billion annual cost of caring for uninsured in Kentucky.

New Report on Seniors and Health Insurance Reform - Sep 1st, 2009
A new federal report highlights problems of seniors with escalating health costs and how reform will affect Medicare.

Some Children's Advocates Fear Health Reform Could Undermine CHIP - Aug 27th, 2009
Kaiser Health News reports that some children's health advocates fear health reform could undermine CHIP

Medical Tourism on the Rise - Aug 25th, 2009
More insurers are offering networks of doctors overseas and in other countries for their policyholders as a way to save money as lawmakers struggle with how to drive down costs>

Fewer medical students going into primary care - Aug 19th, 2009
A doctor shortage is looming as fewer medical students are going into primary care.

KCHIP Applications Available at State Fair - Aug 18th, 2009
KCHIP applications and information will be available at the Kentucky State Fair.

Kentucky Remains 41st in National KIDS COUNT Ranking - Aug 7th, 2009
Kentucky Remains 41st in National KIDS COUNT Ranking

States Expand SCHIP Coverage Despite Budget Problems - Jul 22nd, 2009
At least 13 states have invested millions to cover 250,000 more children in state child health insurance programs despite budget challenges, according to the New York Times.

New Federal Grants to Help Insure More Children - Jul 7th, 2009
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the availability of up to $40 million in grants to help reach families whose children qualify but are not yet enrolled in state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

Survey of Family Doctors Shows Recession Taking Toll on Patients - Jun 19th, 2009
The results of a national survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians confirms the potentially serious impact the recession is having on Americans' access to healthcare.

U.S. Senate Finance Committee Coverage Options Paper - Jun 19th, 2009
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee recently released a description of policy options under consideration to expand health coverage to all Americans.

Kentucky's Adult Smoking Ranking Drops - May 21st, 2009
Kentucky health officials report that adult smoking rates in Kentucky have fallen from the highest in the nation to number three.

New Report on Rural Health - May 21st, 2009
HHS releases new report on rural health: Hard Times in the Heartland: Health Care in Rural America.

Role of Tobacco in Kentucky's Economy Continues to Decline - Mar 2nd, 2009
New statistics released from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids finds that the role of tobacco in Kentucky's economy continues to decline.

Tobacco, Alcohol Tax Narrowly Passes Senate - Feb 14th, 2009
A 30 cent increase in the cigarette tax and a new tax on alcohol narrowly passed the Senate on Friday, February 13.

Top U of L Administrators Voice Support for Tobacco Tax - Feb 6th, 2009
Top administrators of the University of Louisville announced their support of a 70 cent increase in the tobacco tax to improve health and raise needed revenue for education.

Education Coalition Endorses Increase In Tobacco Tax - Feb 6th, 2009
The Kentucky Education Coalition called for an increase in the tobacco tax to raise additional revenue necessary to protect gains in education and to improve health.

Kentucky Ranked Highest in Smoking-Related Deaths - Jan 23rd, 2009
Smoking kills Kentuckians at the highest rate in the nation, according to a federal report released on January 22, 2009.

Kentucky Gets All F's for Smoking Policies - Jan 21st, 2009
Kentucky received all F's for its policies on tobacco in the American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report released on January 13, 2009.

Strong Majority of Kentucky Voters Favor $1 Cigarette Tax Increase - Jan 8th, 2009
A new poll finds a strong majority of Kentucky voters favor a $1 increase in Kentucky's cigarette tax.

Kentucky Medicaid could receive over $500 million from federal stimulus package - Dec 16th, 2008
Kentucky Medicaid could receive over $500 Million from the pending federal stimulus package, according to a new report from Families USA.

Governor Beshear holding Town Hall meetings on state budget - Dec 9th, 2008
Governor Beshear has announced a series of Town Hall Meetings and Press Conferences to discuss options for addressing the $456 million deficit in the state budget.

President-elect Obama asks citizens to submit health care ideas - Dec 8th, 2008
President-elect Obama asks citizens to submit ideas to overhaul the U. S. health care system

National report ranks Kentucky 41st in protecting kids from tobacco - Nov 24th, 2008
Ten years after the November 1998 state tobacco settlement, Kentucky ranks 41st in the nation in funding programs to protect kids from tobacco, according to a national report released November 18 by a coalition of public health organizations.

Organizations endorse Kentucky Voices for Health initiatives - Nov 14th, 2008
Kentucky Voices for Health policy initiatives have been endorsed by representatives of 36 organizations to date.

KCHIP web site launched - Nov 4th, 2008
A new Web site and toll-free number launched on November 3 allows parents to get applications and other information about the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). For more information or to get an application, visit the Web site, http://www.kidshealth.ky.gov or call, toll-free, (877) 524-4718.

Kid's Health Squad formed - Nov 3rd, 2008
Governor Beshear has issued an invitation to organizations across the Commonwealth to join his “Kids’ Health Squad” in support of his KCHIP Initiative. Beginning on November 1st, there will be a simplified enrollment process, increased retention efforts and enhanced outreach in an effort to get more eligible children enrolled in the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). A Kick-Off Event is planned for Tuesday, November 18th at 2:00 p.m. at the Frankfort Convention Center.

Foundation launches Kentucky health data site - Oct 3rd, 2008
What are the facts, right where you live? The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has launched www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org, a new website to help you find out. The website provides local leaders, advocates and anyone who's interested with ready access to key health data for their county or ADD district.

Governor announces plan to boost KCHIP enrollment - Sep 15th, 2008
On September 3, 2008, Governor Steve Beshear announced a plan to enroll as many children as possible in the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) by 2010. Scheduled to start November 1, the plan aims to dramatically cut the number of children without health coverage by removing barriers to enrollment, retaining more children once they are enrolled and significantly increasing education and outreach regarding the program. The goal is to enroll over 35,000 by FY2010. KCHIP provides health insurance to children whose family income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, about $42,400 a year for a family of four.

Health, social advocates tout big increase in cigarette tax - Feb 27th, 2008
FRANKFORT — If state lawmakers increase the cigarette tax this year, the hike should be hefty enough to reduce smoking among youth and improve health in the state, a broad group of health and social advocates said Wednesday.

Kentucky Voices for Health is backing a 70-cent increase in the state’s 30-cents-a-pack tax to be closer to the national average of $1.11 a pack....

Health Coalition Seeks Levy on Tobacco to Aid Those Without Benefits - Jan 15th, 2008
FRANKFORT -- A broad group of health advocates working for coverage of the nearly 600,000 Kentuckians without health insurance is joining the growing chorus for a higher tobacco tax. The group, known as Kentucky Voices for Health, is pushing for a higher cigarette tax to reduce smoking, particularly among youth and pregnant women, with some of the revenue used to improve the health of Kentuckians.

Tonya Chang, state director of advocacy with the American Heart Association, said at a news conference Monday in the Capitol Rotunda announcing the new group that Kentucky's cigarette tax should be close to the national average of $1.11 a pack. Kentucky's tax rate now is 30 cents a pack, among the lowest in the nation....